The Climate is Changing, But Don’t Expect Confirmation from
W.Va. Pols
Charleston Gazette
12 May 2014
By David Gutman, Staff writer
The first step in solving a problem is acknowledging that there is
a problem.
Among scientists, there is virtually no debate: The earth’s
climate is changing, and human activity, specifically burning
fossil fuels, is causing those changes.
In West Virginia, where coal dominates political conversation and
plays a big role in the economy, it’s more complicated, and
politicians are reluctant to even say there is a problem.
A majority of West Virginia’s political leaders either declined to
respond or gave evasive answers when recently asked a yes-or-no
question, whether they thought human actions were causing climate
change.
A national report released Tuesday, warned, in dire language, of
increasingly severe effects of climate change, including heat
waves in Southwestern West Virginia and greater flood risk in the
state’s mountain regions.
The White House released the report, but it was written by a team
of 300 independent scientists and included two oil company
representatives on its advisory committee.
The report focused on the effects of climate change, but was
unambiguous about the fact that it is happening.
“The warming of global climate and its causes are not matters of
opinion; they are matters of scientific evidence, and that
evidence is clear,” the report says. “Scientists do not ‘believe’
in human-induced climate change; rather the widespread agreement
among scientists is based on the vast array of evidence that has
accumulated over the last 200 years. When all of the evidence is
considered, the conclusions are clear.”
Another recent, more conservative, report from the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was equally unequivocal.
“The effects of climate change are already occurring on all
continents and across the oceans,” the report says. “Observed
impacts of climate change have already affected agriculture, human
health, ecosystems on land and in the oceans, water supplies and
some people’s livelihoods.”
The Gazette asked all of West Virginia’s national representatives
and major statewide leaders the following question: “Do you
believe that man-made carbon emissions are causing climate
change?” Only Sens. Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin, both
Democrats, answered yes. None of the Republicans elected to
federal or statewide office — Reps. Shelley Moore Capito and David
McKinley and Attorney General Patrick Morrisey — responded to
repeated requests.
Democratic Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin also did not respond to the
question, but sent a statement about the environment.
Rep. Nick Rahall, a Democrat, wrote that the Earth’s climate is
“ever changing,” and blamed a “variety of factors.”
Secretary of State Natalie Tennant, a Democrat, did not directly
answer the question. She said that it is “not her job to argue the
science,” but her campaign spokeswoman said that Tennant does not
dispute the “broad consensus among scientists.”
Capito and Tennant are both running for the Senate seat that will
be vacated by Rockefeller, who is retiring.
Here are the responses of West Virginia’s political leaders when
asked if they think humans are causing climate change. All
responses were sent via emailed statement, except for Rockefeller,
who answered in person at an event in Buckhannon about two weeks
ago.
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin
“We understand the importance of environmental stewardship and
are committed to preserving our state’s natural beauty for future
generations to enjoy. It is important that we work together to
develop reasonable standards that balance the environment and
economic opportunity.”
Sen. Jay Rockefeller
“I do. I always have. I’ve always believed in the science and
climate and I think that those who don’t are just, in a way, they
feel good doing it because it gives them a rallying cry, but it
hastens their doom.
“I’ve fought for coal miners all my life and they just dig the
coal,” Rockefeller said. “The utilities are the ones who make the
decisions about whether they’re going to invest in the kind of
carbon capture and sequestration that’s been proven already, twice
in West Virginia, takes 90 percent of the carbon dioxide out of
emissions. But that’s going to take money, that’s my point. So
long as we say our sanctity and rectitude is never spending a dime
more than we already have, we will just (Rockefeller made a
declining motion with his hand).”
Sen. Joe Manchin
“There is no disputing climate change. With more than seven
billion people on the planet, we have made an impact on the
environment as global energy demands rise. As in everything in
life, it’s up to us to find the balance between our environment
and our economic needs.”
Rep. Nick Rahall
“We know the earth’s climate is ever changing. I believe there
are a variety of factors and that those who focus their blame so
intensely and entirely on our coal industry are being completely
illogical.”
Rep. Shelley Moore Capito
Capito did not respond to repeated requests sent over the last
several weeks.
Rep. David McKinley
McKinley did not respond to repeated requests sent over the
last several weeks.
Secretary of State Natalie Tennant
“Let me be very clear: I will fight President Obama and anyone
else who tries to undermine our coal jobs. It’s not my job to
argue the science. It’s my job to make sure policy solutions work
for West Virginia. I refuse to accept that we have to choose
between protecting our air and protecting our jobs when I know
West Virginia can lead the way in producing technology that does
both.”
Attorney General Patrick Morrisey
Morrisey did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Reach David Gutman at david.gutman@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5119.
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